Re: [Epiphany] More Topic/Keyword/Folder madness! Oh, no!

[Johan Forsberg <johan forsberg 6117 student uu se>]

On Fri, 14 Mar 2003 07:32:21 -0600
Erik <erik@knowoneness.com> wrote:

> Johan Forsberg <johan.forsberg.6117@student.uu.se> wrote:
> 
> > This seems to be a strange argument; if people *have* to do this in
> > order to start epiphany, then that is an explanation to why they do
> > it that way, it doesn't necessarily mean it's the "best" way? "Is"
> > does not imply "should" :)
> 
> I think you missed the point...

Quite possible, since I'm new to the discussion.

I can see that you're not really arguing againt the "topics"-concept, but you want another way of accessing the bookmarks than the current way, preferrably something which works much as the hierarchical menu style? As long as this will not impose bad restrictions on the keywords style of use, I can't argue againt it.

I can imagine that it makes the programmers' work harder though, and if the end result is only something that you might as well use another "classical" browser for...

Anyway, my comments aren't necessarily directed "against" yours, I just felt that I wanted to contribute to the discussion with my own thoughts.


> > > Check out the View->Encoding->submenus in Epiphany! What to do,
> > > what to do..
> > 
> > I think epiphany's bookmarking system is an interesting UI
> > experiment, let's concentrate on trying to find a optimal
> > implementation of the"keywords" idea, and see how well it can work.
> > There are dozens of browsers that do things in essentially the same,
> > "old" way - I just don't see any need for yet another one. Just
> > because the menu bar is hierarchical (a really deeply rooted design
> > concept) doesn't mean that everything else has to work the same way
> > just to be consistent. You have to start reforming somewhere!--
> 
> I never said to do away with the topics/dialog/toolbar/etc ideas. I'm
> saying, the two systems could be put together, and it would work with
> wonderful amounts of success, alienating no one.

Yes, sure I wouldn't argue against a solution that permits both ways, as long as it's not some weird compromise that end up not quite being either... I've used the hierarchical bookmark menu style of galeon etc for a long time and I wouldn't say it's terribly unintuitive or anything, but then again, nothing is when you're used to it. I'd just like to be able to explore an promising alternative idea with epiphany.


> The only points I've seen against this: difficult for someone to use..
> The author, new users, etc. My point about the gnome menu and other
> nested submenus counters this. Speed in building the menu on opening
> new windows. Later discounted as 'implementation'. So there really is
> no reason left to toss the menu out completly. I think it can be done
> right, with topic dialog sidepane toolbar et al support. Everyone's
> happy. (holy complexity batman)

Well, I agree; if a good way of combining it all can be found, then it's fine by me. The users themselves are probably the best judges of what they find difficult to use. But it would necessarily (?) make epiphany larger and more complex...
--

Johan Forsberg